Arms for GPS or PDA units
There are 2 styles of mounting arms available for mounting GPS units and
PDAs in gliders.

Articulated ArmsThese are double jointed arms. They are generally more rigid
than flex arms but they are a little more difficult to adjust while in
flight. The small RAM "A" size arms are OK for light loads (small PDA
only) but the RAM "B" size arms are recommended for heavier loads
(larger PDA or PDA with GPS).

Flex Arms (Goosenecks)These are very easy to adjust in flight, but they are less rigid
than articulated arms. They are friction devices which will become
less stiff over time as they are used. However, I include
stiffening rods in the longer flex arms to eliminate that problem.

PDA
Cradle with 0.3 m (11.8") Cable, Panel Mounted DB-9f Connector, and
Panel Mounted Gooseneck - My Favorite Option
This is my favorite option because it does not require the use of a
57 mm instrument hole and the panel mounted DB-9f connector and
GnBase2 gooseneck base make it
possible to remove the gooseneck and PDA very quickly and easily.
That is not possible when a 1 m cradle cable is run through the
instrument panel. Also, the panel mounted connector can be
connected to either the PDA, or a PC without the need to get behind
the instrument panel.

The panel mounted DB-9f connector is
the panel end of either a
CAI-Pnl-0.5 or
LX7007-Pnl-0.5 cable. The
CAI-Pnl-0.5 cable runs from the back of a Cambridge 302 or
Goddard PS-5a power converter or
Borgelt PDA-PS power converter to a
panel mounted DB-9f connector. The
LX7007-Pnl-0.5 runs from
the back of an LX7007 to a panel mounted DB-9f connector. The
panel end of either of those cables mounts to the back of the
instrument panel and is accessible through a small rectangular hole
in the panel. The short cable from the PDA cradle is connected
to the panel mounted CAI-Pnl-0.5
or LX7007-Pnl-0.5.
The panel end of the CAI-Pnl-0.5
or LX7007-Pnl-0.5 can be
mounted anywhere on the instrument panel - near where the gooseneck
is attached to the panel.

The gooseneck can be mounted directly
through a 0.39" (10 mm) hole the panel and secured with the supplied
nut and lock washer on the back side of the panel.
However, many pilots prefer the optional
GnBase2 gooseneck mounting base which provides a more stable
mounting point for the gooseneck and also makes it easy to remove
the gooseneck at any time. When the gooseneck is mounted
through the panel it is tough to remove because it is secured with a
nut an washer on the back side of the panel. The
GnBase2 mounts on the front (pilot
side) of the instrument panel and the gooseneck screws into it.

Parts List

PDA Cradle with short 0.3 m
(11.8") power data cable to a DB-9m connector

PDA
Cradle with 0.3 m (11.8") Cable, Gooseneck, and Gn57mmPlateDB-9
Mounting Plate - Great Option
This is a great option if you have a spare 57 mm instrument hole.
The panel mounted DB-9f connector makes it possible to remove the
PDA cradle (but not the gooseneck) very quickly and easily.
That is not possible when a 1 m cradle cable is run through the
instrument panel. Also, the panel mounted connector can be
connected to either the PDA, or a PC without the need to get behind
the instrument panel.

The
Gn57mmPlateDB-9 fits in a 57
mm instrument hole and includes a mounting hole for the gooseneck
and mounting holes for either a
CAI-Pnl-0.5 or
LX7007-Pnl-0.5 cable. The
CAI-Pnl-0.5 cable runs from the back of a Cambridge 302 or
Goddard PS-5a power converter or
Borgelt PDA-PS power converter to a
panel mounted DB-9f connector. The
LX7007-Pnl-0.5 runs from
the back of an LX7007 to a panel mounted DB-9f connector. The
Gn57mmPlateDB-9 is designed
specifically as a mounting point for the DB-9f connector. The
short cable from the PDA cradle is connected to the panel mounted
CAI-Pnl-0.5 or
LX7007-Pnl-0.5.

Parts List

PDA Cradle with short 0.3 m
(11.8") power data cable to a DB-9m connector

PDA
Cradle with Gooseneck and 1 m Cable Run Through a Slot at the Side
of an Instrument Hole - Popular Option
The images above show a neat trick for running a 1 m long power/data
cable through the instrument panel without the need to remove the
DB-9 connector. Simply remove the nearest instrument and file
a slot for the cable on the side or top or bottom of the instrument
hole. Then put the cable in the slot and re-install the
instrument. Alternatively, the slot can be at the edge of the
panel where the panel meets the instrument panel cover. This
technique works great with a PDA cradle with a 1 m long power/data
cable.

The gooseneck can be mounted directly
through a 0.39" (10 mm) hole the panel and secured with the supplied
nut and lock washer on the back side of the panel.
However, many pilots prefer the optional
GnBase2 gooseneck mounting base which provides a more stable
mounting point for the gooseneck and also makes it easy to remove
the gooseneck at any time. When the gooseneck is mounted
through the panel it is tough to remove because it is secured with a
nut an washer on the back side of the panel. The
GnBase2 mounts on the front (pilot
side) of the instrument panel and the gooseneck screws into it.
The power/data cable plugs directly into the flight computer or GPS
flight recorder or Goddard PS-5a
power converter or Borgelt PDA-PS
power converter. The downside of this installation is that the
cradle cannot be removed from the glider without removing the
instrument that the cable runs by.

Note: The gooseneck adapter plates
are designed so that it is possible to route the power/data cable
through the gooseneck. However, the cradle is shipped with the
DB-9m connector already attached. You would need to remove and
reattach the DB-9m connector if you decided to route the cable
through the gooseneck. I don't recommend that because it is
difficult to do well and will probably reduce the reliability of the
system (don't mess with a well soldered connector).

PDA
Cradle with 1 m Cable, Gooseneck, and Gn57mmPlate2 Mounting PlateThe Gn57mmPlate2 fits in a
57 mm instrument hole and includes a mounting hole for the gooseneck
and a slot for the power/data cable. It would be used with a
PDA cradle with a 1 m long power/data cable. The cable is
inserted into the slot in the plate before it is mounted in the
panel so the DB-9 connector does not need to be removed from the end
of the cable. The power/data cable plugs directly into the
flight computer or GPS flight recorder or Goddard
PS-5a power converter or Borgelt
PDA-PS power converter. The
downside of this installation is that the cradle cannot be removed
from the glider without removing the
Gn57mmPlate2 from the panel.

Note: The gooseneck adapter plates are
designed so that it is possible to route the power/data cable
through the gooseneck. However, the cradle is shipped with the
DB-9m connector already attached. You would need to remove and
reattach the DB-9m connector if you decided to route the cable
through the gooseneck. I don't recommend that because it is
difficult to do well and will probably reduce the reliability of the
system (don't mess with a well soldered connector).